1939
1940
Anti-invasion road barricades at Upper Dovercourt, Harwich, Essex (1940)
A timely reminder of more worrying times at Dovercourt in 1940, these roadblocks were erected in preparation for anti-invasion tactics during the Second World War, which entailed a large-scale division of military and civilian mobilisation in response to the threat of invasion (Operation Sea Lion) by German armed forces in 1940 and 1941.
The British Army needed to recover from the defeat of the British Expeditionary Force in France, and 1.5 million men were enrolled as part-time soldiers in the Home Guard. The rapid construction of field fortifications transformed much of the United Kingdom, especially southern England, into a prepared battlefield.
Sea Lion was never taken beyond the preliminary assembly of forces.
Today, little remains of Britain's anti-invasion preparations; only reinforced concrete structures such as pillboxes and anti-tank cubes are commonly found.
A timely reminder of more worrying times at Dovercourt in 1940, these roadblocks were erected in preparation for anti-invasion tactics during the Second World War, which entailed a large-scale division of military and civilian mobilisation in response to the threat of invasion (Operation Sea Lion) by German armed forces in 1940 and 1941.
The British Army needed to recover from the defeat of the British Expeditionary Force in France, and 1.5 million men were enrolled as part-time soldiers in the Home Guard. The rapid construction of field fortifications transformed much of the United Kingdom, especially southern England, into a prepared battlefield.
Sea Lion was never taken beyond the preliminary assembly of forces.
Today, little remains of Britain's anti-invasion preparations; only reinforced concrete structures such as pillboxes and anti-tank cubes are commonly found.
An unexploded “SC1000” dropped by the German Luftwaffe on Dovercourt, Essex (1941).
This original photo shows heroic British soldiers around an unexploded German "SC1000" bomb, taken at Dovercourt (possibly in the park, with Orwell Terrace behind, but no location can be given, due to censorship during the war) the Image was produced by J.A. Saunders, photographers at Dovercourt Bay. These incredibly brave souls would have worked on the UXB to make it safe to move and finally dispose of.
The SC 1000 was a large air-dropped general-purpose thin-cased high explosive demolition bomb used by Germany during World War II. Weighing more than 1,000 kg, it was nicknamed the "Hermann" by the Germans in reference to the portly Luftwaffe commander, Hermann Göring.
Tragically 80 years on such large bombs are still being used by Russia, on the heroic Ukrainian people due to Putin's murderous war.
The SC 1000 was a large air-dropped general-purpose thin-cased high explosive demolition bomb used by Germany during World War II. Weighing more than 1,000 kg, it was nicknamed the "Hermann" by the Germans in reference to the portly Luftwaffe commander, Hermann Göring.
Tragically 80 years on such large bombs are still being used by Russia, on the heroic Ukrainian people due to Putin's murderous war.
1941
World War Two Bomb Damage
German Luftwaffe Air Raids and Bomb Damage to Main Road/Beacon Hill, Harwich, Essex (25.02.1941)
On the evening of Tuesday 25th February 1941 at 22:08 Hrs, extensive damage was caused in the Harwich and Dovercourt area, by a German Air Raid over the town. Tragically five local residents were killed in this air raid and property was damaged in Park Road, Grafton Road, Main Road, and Beacon Hill Avenue.
This photograph taken the following morning, shows bomb damage along the Main Road outside the Police station (looking West towards the park), while the other two photographs show the damage to the residential property as well as the Police station.
WW2 Bomb Damage (25.02.1941) "HillCroft", Main Road, Dovercourt, Essex
This photograph taken the following morning, shows bomb damage to "Hillcroft" along Main Road (opposite the Police station), while the other two photographs show the damage to the rear of the property, with residents starting to clear the debris.
This photograph taken the following morning, shows bomb damage to "Hillcroft" along Main Road (opposite the Police station), while the other two photographs show the damage to the rear of the property, with residents starting to clear the debris.
WW2 Bomb Damage (25.02.1941) "Halverholme", Main Road, Harwich, Essex
This photograph taken the following morning, shows bomb damage to the rear of the property "Haverholme" along the Main Road (Number 77 adjacent to Harwich Police station), while the second photograph show the damage to the side of the property.
This photograph taken the following morning, shows bomb damage to the rear of the property "Haverholme" along the Main Road (Number 77 adjacent to Harwich Police station), while the second photograph show the damage to the side of the property.
German Luftwaffe Air Raids and Bomb Damage to "Tagg's" General Store in Grafton Road (25.02.1941)
This photograph taken the following morning, shows a direct hit to "L.Tagg" the General Store, Hairdresser and Tobacconist in Grafton Road, while the second photograph show the damage to the rear of the property. The damage although extensive, shows that hardy nature of the building that ground floor structure, shelving, signage and even the garden shed remained intact.
This photograph taken the following morning, shows a direct hit to "L.Tagg" the General Store, Hairdresser and Tobacconist in Grafton Road, while the second photograph show the damage to the rear of the property. The damage although extensive, shows that hardy nature of the building that ground floor structure, shelving, signage and even the garden shed remained intact.
German Luftwaffe Air Raids and Bomb Damage to numbers 6 and 7 Park Road, Dovercourt, Essex (25.02.1941)
This photograph taken the following morning, shows a direct hit to numbers 6 and 7 Park Road, the photos are part of a collection by local photographers J.A. Saunders Ltd, of 105 High St, Dovercourt Bay. The second photograph show the damage to the property from another angle. Note the roofer already working on roof repairs at number 4 and 5 for reconstruction.
This photograph taken the following morning, shows a direct hit to numbers 6 and 7 Park Road, the photos are part of a collection by local photographers J.A. Saunders Ltd, of 105 High St, Dovercourt Bay. The second photograph show the damage to the property from another angle. Note the roofer already working on roof repairs at number 4 and 5 for reconstruction.
German Luftwaffe Air Raids and Bomb Damage to numbers 16 and 20 Cliff Road, Dovercourt, Essex (03.05.1941)
On the evening of Saturday May 3rd 1941 at 21:20 hrs, extensive damage was caused in the Harwich and Dovercourt area, by a German Air Raid over the town. Tragically local residents were killed in this air raid and property was badly damaged in Cliff Road, rescuers did however manage to rescue a lady 10 hours after the bomb hit, although dead bodies were still being recovered over the following few days.
On this day across Britain, massive air raids were planned by Germany to annihilate ports and harbours including Harwich and Parkeston. Air raids were recorded in in many areas including the Docklands in London, Merseyside where it was remembered as the biggest night of terror ever to hit the area. Relentless bombing reduced many areas to rubble and hundreds of buildings stood burning. Reports estimate that up to 500 enemy aircraft pounded the area for 7 hours.
In other areas such as North Shields, a bomb made a direct hit on Wilkinson’ Lemonade Factory, which had a large shelter in the basement, and that night some 250 people were sheltering there and of that number some 128 were killed when the whole factory collapsed into the shelter.
This photograph taken the following morning, shows a direct hit to numbers 18 and 20 Cliff Road, the photos are part of a collection by local photographers J.A. Saunders Ltd, of 105 High St, Dovercourt Bay. The other photographs show the damage to the property from different angles.
On the evening of Saturday May 3rd 1941 at 21:20 hrs, extensive damage was caused in the Harwich and Dovercourt area, by a German Air Raid over the town. Tragically local residents were killed in this air raid and property was badly damaged in Cliff Road, rescuers did however manage to rescue a lady 10 hours after the bomb hit, although dead bodies were still being recovered over the following few days.
On this day across Britain, massive air raids were planned by Germany to annihilate ports and harbours including Harwich and Parkeston. Air raids were recorded in in many areas including the Docklands in London, Merseyside where it was remembered as the biggest night of terror ever to hit the area. Relentless bombing reduced many areas to rubble and hundreds of buildings stood burning. Reports estimate that up to 500 enemy aircraft pounded the area for 7 hours.
In other areas such as North Shields, a bomb made a direct hit on Wilkinson’ Lemonade Factory, which had a large shelter in the basement, and that night some 250 people were sheltering there and of that number some 128 were killed when the whole factory collapsed into the shelter.
This photograph taken the following morning, shows a direct hit to numbers 18 and 20 Cliff Road, the photos are part of a collection by local photographers J.A. Saunders Ltd, of 105 High St, Dovercourt Bay. The other photographs show the damage to the property from different angles.
German Luftwaffe Air Raids and Bomb Damage to C.H. Bernard & Sons Factory
Main Road, Harwich, Essex (09.05.1941)
In the early hours of Friday morning on the 9th May 1941 at 0110Hrs, extensive damage was caused to the Bernards clothing factory in Harwich, by a German Air Raid over the town. The bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe were believed to be several types of "incendiary devices", the factory was even bombed again a week later, in another attack on the 17th May, with being little but rubble all that remained after the second attack on the uniform manufacturing factory.
Uniform production however, was started again within three days at an alternative premises in Luton and a new factory at Harwich was rebuilt again within five months.
Main Road, Harwich, Essex (09.05.1941)
In the early hours of Friday morning on the 9th May 1941 at 0110Hrs, extensive damage was caused to the Bernards clothing factory in Harwich, by a German Air Raid over the town. The bombs dropped by the Luftwaffe were believed to be several types of "incendiary devices", the factory was even bombed again a week later, in another attack on the 17th May, with being little but rubble all that remained after the second attack on the uniform manufacturing factory.
Uniform production however, was started again within three days at an alternative premises in Luton and a new factory at Harwich was rebuilt again within five months.
German Luftwaffe Air Raids and Bomb Damage to the Ordnance Building
Main Road, Harwich, Essex (17.05.1941)
This unique photograph, taken from the top window of the Harwich High Lighthouse (looking West towards Harbour Crescent and the Redoubt) shows a scene of total devastation, which sadly resulted in two deaths, but the losses, could have been much higher if it had been a daylight raid.
In the early hours of Saturday morning (03:55) on the 17th May 1941, the German Luftwaffe dropped a new type of "land-mine" onto the building, which caused extensive bomb damage to the building and surrounding areas of Harwich, including the Bernards Clothing Factory (bombed a week earlier) and nearby residential property. Other premises damaged included Joe Lovatt's shop on the corner of George Street and the Salvation Army Citadel.
Main Road, Harwich, Essex (17.05.1941)
This unique photograph, taken from the top window of the Harwich High Lighthouse (looking West towards Harbour Crescent and the Redoubt) shows a scene of total devastation, which sadly resulted in two deaths, but the losses, could have been much higher if it had been a daylight raid.
In the early hours of Saturday morning (03:55) on the 17th May 1941, the German Luftwaffe dropped a new type of "land-mine" onto the building, which caused extensive bomb damage to the building and surrounding areas of Harwich, including the Bernards Clothing Factory (bombed a week earlier) and nearby residential property. Other premises damaged included Joe Lovatt's shop on the corner of George Street and the Salvation Army Citadel.
German Luftwaffe Air Raids and Bomb Damage to Residential & Commercial Property, Harwich (17.05.1941)
To mark "V.E" Day on the 8th/9th May, this final set of photographs captures the often forgotten cost to both the civilian population, residential and commercial properties in the Harwich Area.
In the early hours of Saturday morning (03:55) on the 17th May 1941, the German Luftwaffe dropped a new type of "land-mine" onto the Ordnance Building, which also caused extensive bomb damage the surrounding areas of Harwich
Commercial Buildings effected by the devastation included the Bernards Clothing Factory (bombed a week earlier on the 9th May), Garnett's General Stores and corn merchants, the Fountain Cafe, Joe Lovatt's shop and the The Salvation Army Citadel on the corner of George and West Street. Many residential properties were also damaged and in some cases still bear the scars today.
To mark "V.E" Day on the 8th/9th May, this final set of photographs captures the often forgotten cost to both the civilian population, residential and commercial properties in the Harwich Area.
In the early hours of Saturday morning (03:55) on the 17th May 1941, the German Luftwaffe dropped a new type of "land-mine" onto the Ordnance Building, which also caused extensive bomb damage the surrounding areas of Harwich
Commercial Buildings effected by the devastation included the Bernards Clothing Factory (bombed a week earlier on the 9th May), Garnett's General Stores and corn merchants, the Fountain Cafe, Joe Lovatt's shop and the The Salvation Army Citadel on the corner of George and West Street. Many residential properties were also damaged and in some cases still bear the scars today.
World War II ended with the unconditional surrender of Germany in May 1945, but both May 8 and May 9 are celebrated as Victory in Europe Day (or V-E Day). This double celebration occurs because the Germans surrendered to the Western Allies, including Britain and the U.S., on May 8, and a separate surrender took place on May 9 in Russia.
In the East, the war ended when Japan surrendered unconditionally on Aug. 14, 1945, signing their surrender on Sept. 2. The Japanese surrender occurred after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, respectively. The date of the Japanese surrender is known as Victory Over Japan Day, or V-J Day.
In the East, the war ended when Japan surrendered unconditionally on Aug. 14, 1945, signing their surrender on Sept. 2. The Japanese surrender occurred after the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on Aug. 6 and 9, respectively. The date of the Japanese surrender is known as Victory Over Japan Day, or V-J Day.
1943
Rail Lines (1943)
The Liverpool St to Harwich train in Bomb Crater near Shenfield Driver William Greenfield and Fireman Arthur Barrett killed 3rd March 1943 R F
The Liverpool St to Harwich train in Bomb Crater near Shenfield Driver William Greenfield and Fireman Arthur Barrett killed 3rd March 1943 R F